Preventing & Treating Mould

Posted by Michelle September 01 2017

The most common complaint over the winter months in Property Management is the build up of condensation and mould. This issue is not limited to older homes, it is a wide spread issue that needs to be managed by both the owner and the tenant.

Moulds are natural organisms in the environment but can become a problem when excessive moisture accumulates indoors causing mould growth to occur. Mould growth may become excessive if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed.

Preventing Mould

The simplest and cheapest way of helping control mould growth is ventilating by opening a window or door and making sure blinds and curtains are open during the day. If possible, it is better to ventilate continuously and evenly by having at least one window slightly open for most of the time rather than having it wide open for a short time. This could be a high window that does not create a security risk.

Good ventilation should be provided to kitchens and other rooms used for washing, clothes drying and cooking. Extraction fans and ventilation hoods over cooking stoves will also assist.

Wherever possible all rooms should be partially heated in cold weather. Condensation most often occurs in unheated bedrooms and as a cold building takes a long time to warm up, a small amount of heat should be provided for a long period rather than a lot of heat for a short time.

Heating can also help reduce condensation and mould. Continuous even heating eventually will allow warmth to penetrate the walls and ceilings. Good insulation will help keep warmth in the houses and will help reduce condensation and mould problems.

Two Simple Methods to Remove Mould from Walls and Ceilings

Having mould growing on your walls and ceilings is not only unsightly but unhealthy and unwelcoming! It only takes an inch of your wall for mould to make it its home and steadily grow before you find an entire top corner of your home blackened with fungus.

There are many methods you can use to remove mould and we’re giving you two of the best, most reliable and easiest ones to choose from.

Method 1: Mould Removal using Mould Power SDS

Mould Power is a new generation, enviro-friendly mould inhibitor, which contains its trademark wonder ingredient OST ™ (OzKleen Seed Technology).

Unlike other mould killer, Mould Power does not contain chlorine, ammonia or phosphates, so it can be used on most surfaces.

Mould Power will kill mould spores and will prevent mould from forming. Mould Power will continue to inhibit germs/mould longer than most other cleaners.

Mould Power will kill 99.9% of household germs, including staphylococcus, e-coli and pseudomonas.

Mould Power is ideal for use in all households, especially those where there are young children or elderly.

The limitations of existing mould cleaners

1) To get rid of mould, traditionally households have had to turn to bleach which is responsible for thousands of poisonings each year.

2) The harmful effects of bleach are intensified when the fumes are heated, as in the shower. Not only that, chlorine and its chemical byproducts are believed to be highly carcinogenic.

3) Despite using chlorine-based products, many households still find mould keeps returning to the same spot, which tells us that chlorine-based products, even though they bleach the mould white, they are limited in their effectiveness in killing mould spores.

Many choose vinegar over bleach or other chemicals because it is 100% natural and safe. It does not emit any dangerous fumes into your home like most chemicals do. Like bleach, it can also kill and prevent future mould growth, but only if applied regularly to areas prone to mould around your home. When cleaning with vinegar, gather these items and follow the steps:

Step One: Pour the vinegar into the dry spray bottle (do not mix any water in it) and spray a good amount on to the mould-infested areas. Allow it to sit for an hour before you move on to the next step.

Step Two: Using a clean cloth soaked in plain water, wipe away the mould from the walls and ceilings. You can also use a scrubbing brush with firm bristles as it is more effective in removing hardened fungus and stains.

Step Three: Use a dry, absorbent cloth to soak up moisture by dabbing or pressing against the cleaned areas. Keep the windows open to dry the area quicker and allow the vinegar smell to go out.

Step Four: To help prevent mould growth using vinegar, ceiling corners and other areas where mould is likely to grow should be sprayed once or twice a week using the same vinegar in the bottle.

If the mould problem persists after attempts to treat the area you should contact the owner or your property manager to investigate possible solutions.